First Republican president DR Kenneth Kaunda on Sunday emphasised the
need to fight poverty through the field of agriculture. In an interview after
visiting his family in Sindamisale area of Chadiza district, Dr Kaunda praised
the people's efforts in agriculture.

"I went to visit a family of mine,
Colonel Panji Kaunda and naturally I took that opportunity to meet so many other
people there who had gathered. I praised their efforts in the field of
agriculture. They are doing something which will help us as a nation," Dr Kaunda
said.

He urged people to combine efforts in fighting HIV and
AIDS.

"I also talked about fighting AIDS and how we must make it a point
for each one of us to see that we join this great fight. I am happy things move
very well. In the field of agriculture, they are trying their level best and I
think more and more young people should try and join that, fighting poverty
through agriculture, something which will help us as a nation," he
said.

Dr Kaunda, who also attended the Kulamba traditional ceremony of
the Chewa people in Katete on Saturday, said culture was important because it
brings people together.

And former Petauke district commissioner George
Zulu urged the people of Eastern Province to take advantage of the
Chipata/Mchinji railway line to foster development.

Zulu, who accompanied
Dr Kaunda to Sindamisale, said people in the province should know that they were
responsible for their development.

"What the President [Rupiah Banda]
said at the Kulamba ceremony in relation to developing trade links between
Zambia, Mozambique and Malawi should be a challenge to all people in Eastern
Province and others because development of the Eastern Province is going to be
done by ourselves. So, yes, the President has given a challenge but what are we
going to be doing ourselves as easterners to make sure that...that before the
end of this year that railway line would be operational," said Zulu. "We must
all rally together, it has no politics, it must have no politics, it should have
development. We development officers, trained development students, we should
make sure that we push those responsible for this railway line to start by
December, this is a timetable challenged by the President.

"So we must
thank the President for this important area of our development. Eastern Province
is going to develop with this railway line. It's extremely huge and important
railway line to Zambia and in particular to the people of Eastern
Province."